John Robert Somers-Smith (15 December 1887 – 1 July 1916) was a British rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. He was killed in action during the First World War. Somers-Smith was born at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, the son of Robert Vernon Somers-Smith and his wife Gertrude. His father ran for Oxford against Cambridge in 1868 and 1869 and was twice the AAA half-mile champion. Somers-Smith was educated at Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he rowed for his college. Although he did not row for Oxford, his brother, Richard Somers-Smith rowed for Oxford in the Boat Race in 1904 and 1905. The Magdalen College Coxless four won the Stewards' Challenge Cup and the Visitors' Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 1907 and 1908. The Magdalen crew was chosen to represent Great